It was a thing of beauty
Tan Hill Inn’s giant Yorkshire with lamb and a pint of bitter(Image: Samuel Port)
Britain’s highest and most remote pub knows what their customers want. Good food, a warm welcome and a selection of drinks that suits all tastes.
So it comes as no surprise that on The Tan Hill Inn’s comforting menu of proper homecooked food, is the Yorkshire dishes of all Yorkshire dishes – a giant Yorkshire pudding filled to the brim with Sunday dinner.
The Tan Hill Inn is located 1,732ft above sea level in Richmond in the Yorkshire Dales. It dates all the way back to the 17th century and made national headlines after guests were snowed in for days there.
The drive there was a snaking climb, winding along the country lanes amid the rugged landscape of the dales, rivers and woodlands, with the vast open expanse of the rolling hills offering striking views. The journey is reminiscent of a Turner oil painting.
The pub and hotel is a welcoming sight once you’ve reached the top and its post-medieval cobbled stone architecture complements the majestic views. The owners have preserved the historical look of the interior, leaning into the rustic, snug nature of the pub.
As soon as we enter, we’re bathed in the warmth of the inglenook fireplace, which was burning merrily during my visit, and ensconced within the low celing, wooden beams and exposed stone walls.
It was relatively busy for a lunchtime, with a mix of couples and young families, who I presumed were hotel guests. There was calm music playing which was very pleasing and relaxing to hear after the long drive through the moors.
The Tan Hill Inn in the Yorkshire Dales(Image: Samuel Port)
There were three dining areas to choose from – the immediate tap room beside the bar or two larger dining areas complete with their own fireplaces. The staff were all very friendly and happy to help, they seemed to be in good spirits.
I ordered my food at the bar, and got the chance peruse some of the beers specifically brewed for the establishment. There were a range of ‘Tan Hill’ offerings on tap, including dark ale, pale ale, bitter, pilsner, IPA and stout. I settled on the Best Bitter as it seemed so in keeping with the quaint setting.
The dark amber bitter had a strong malty flavour with subtle dry, crisp and hoppy notes. It went down perfectly while staring out the window as the sky darkened across moorland.
A pint of Tan Hill Best Bitter(Image: Samuel Port)
Finding a table to sit at came as a slight challenge. The most immediate tables facing the bar had benches along the walls, these benches weren’t particularly comfortable as they require you to sit with a straight back and there’s little space on the seating area.
Plus, so many of the seats were sagging and were clearly old and knackered. The furniture, while admittedly adding the rustic charm, was in desperate need of a refurb. I ended up having to stack a load of seat cushions on top of the sagging chair by my table, and this wasn’t ideal.
I ordered the one of the giant Yorkshires. There was a choice between having it filled with either beef stew and dumplings, a sausage ring, leg of lamb, vegetarian sausage or beef bourguignon. Each of these came with mash, roasted veg and gravy.
I went for the leg of lamb filling – which came with a £2.50 surcharge. My food came very quickly, it must have been within five minutes.
Tan Hill Inn’s giant Yorkshire with lamb(Image: Samuel Port)
It looked wonderful. The large Yorkshire pud looked majestic as the light dazzled across its glistening golden-brown batter. It held its shape as I cut into the doughy dish.
The lamb was rich with flavour. There was a subtle sweetness to the meat and gravy mixture, and each morsel was succulent and fine. It was a melt-in-the-mouth experience. The mash was thick and creamy and the veg remained firm yet delicate.
The dessert was a mixed bag. I went for the Tan Hill Cheesecake. Apparently, the flavour of cheesecake rotates on a weekly basis. I was unfortunately there during ‘plain cheesecake’ week.
Tan Hill Cheesecake with ice cream(Image: Samuel Port)
It had a good balance of rich and creamy sweetness with tangy notes – but wasn’t particularly exciting. Oddly enough, it was served with ice cream rather than cream, as stated on the menu so felt like a mix of two different type of desserts. I was looking forward to the cream balancing out the stronger flavours of the cake.
Overall, it was a lovely pub which seems like it would be an ideal spot to visit once the days grow longer, when spring comes along, and you can visit for a hike and then a bite. There was a really great atmosphere and the staff were very friendly.
The bill
- Giant Yorkshire with lamb – £25.45
- Tann Hill Cheesecake – £7.95
- Tan Hill Best Bitter – £5.20
- Total: £38.60
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